Sometimes the road less traveled is less traveled for a reason. -Jerry Seinfeld
Despite what the purveyors of the prosperity gospel say there is no escaping the New Testament reality that following Jesus is costly. Jesus said it would be. He never hid this fact and laid it out plainly to all that might follow him. The cost involves death to self and total commitment to God. The demand is all encompassing including relationships, wealth, position, possessions and life itself (Lk 9:57-62, 14:26 & 33, Mt 19:16-30). He even said that we’d be hated and persecuted because of him (Jn 15:18-25).
To his disciples in Luke 9:23-24 Jesus said,“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”
Later in Luke Jesus says that we should carefully count the cost of following him, “Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, “ (Lk 14:27-29).
I’m just saying that maybe, just maybe, the reason there are not many true followers of Christ is that they like the rich young man in Matthew 16:16-30 have rejected Jesus’ exclusive claim on them and went away sorrowful, for they had great possessions. They instead have satisfied themselves with a religious experience rather than to walk in Jesus’ company, going where He goes and doing what He does.
I find myself complaining about this regularly as I remind Him of what this is costing me. But, then his Spirit reminds me that he spared no cost to come to me and save me from my sins and self-centeredness and that there are tens of thousands around me that He loves just as much and they don’t even know it. I must remind myself, I’m His, all I am and all I have. I have to say daily, “I’m all in, Lord.”
If Jesus said to count the cost, then there must be a cost in following him. As leaders of His church, we must be intentional about not easing the tension between the Kingdom and this world. We must be careful not to rely on consumer focused strategies that would emasculate the demands of discipleship. We must not be afraid of the cost or ashamed of His exclusive claims.
Lord, this is a marketing nightmare. Good thing it’s your plan.
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